The Neglect of Revolutionary Ideals by the Directory
TITLE
‘The ideas of the Revolution were ignored by the Directory.
ESSAY
In assessing the statement that "The ideas of the Revolution were ignored by the Directory," it is evident that there are valid arguments both in agreement and disagreement with this viewpoint.
One of the key arguments supporting the notion that the Directory ignored the ideas of the Revolution is the extent to which the Constitution of 1795 granted emergency powers that curbed press freedom and the freedom of association. These measures appeared to hark back to the ‘Ancien Régime,’ contradicting the revolutionary principles of liberty and equality. Furthermore, the series of coups that the Directory faced weakened its authority and highlighted a preoccupation with political survival rather than advancing the ideals of the Revolution. This was exemplified by the coup of 1799, where the transition to Consuls from Directors was seen as a cosmetic change rather than a meaningful shift in governance.
The anti-democratic actions taken by the Directory, such as nullifying elections, excluding deputies, and attempting to impose hand-picked candidates, further demonstrate a departure from the revolutionary principles of political participation and representation. The suppression of party activity and the appointment of inexperienced individuals to political positions also indicate a move away from the democratic ideals of the Revolution.
On the other hand, there are counterarguments to consider. The Directory did manage to uphold some democratic institutions, such as yearly elections and the secret ballot, as outlined in the Constitution of 1795. These measures aligned with revolutionary principles of political participation and representation. Additionally, the broader franchise based on tax payment, the relative freedom of the press, and economic prosperity achieved under the Directory can be seen as in line with the goals of the Revolution.
In conclusion, while there were certain actions taken by the Directory that seemed to contradict the revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality, and democracy, there were also instances where the Directory adhered to these principles. Therefore, it is not accurate to assert that the Directory completely ignored the ideas of the Revolution. Instead, it implemented a mix of policies that both aligned and diverged from the revolutionary ethos, illustrating the complexities of governing in the aftermath of a major political upheaval.
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**Title: The Directory and the Ideas of the Revolution**
The ideas of the Revolution were ignored by the Directory.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? Arguments to support the view could be as follows.
- The Constitution of 1795 gave the Directory emergency powers to curb press freedom and the freedom of association, more in line with the ‘Ancien Regime’ than the Revolution of 1789.
- The coups faced by the Directory undermined its authority and made it appear to be solely concerned with political survival as an end, rather than continuing the ideas of the Revolution.
- Thus, the lack of an initial response to the coup of 1799 may have been because many saw it as a cosmetic move by the Directory – Consuls instead of Directors.
- In 1797, the Directory nullified elections in 49 departments and excluded 177 deputies. This anti-democratic sentiment, which ran counter to the Revolution’s ideas, resurfaced in 1799 when the Directory attempted to impose its own hand-picked candidates.
- The suppression of party activity was an attack on the ideas of the Revolution. This meant that those who had previously been politically active were replaced by inexperienced and previously politically inactive people. They followed a more loosely defined set of principles which suggested that the Directory did ignore the ideas of the Revolution.
The view can, however, be challenged. The Directory managed to build on the huge achievements of 1791–92, and the 1795 Constitution established a franchise based on the payment of taxes, similar to the 1791 Constitution. For a time, the Directory made democratic institutions work, such as yearly elections and the secret ballot, as required by the 1795 Constitution and in accordance with the Revolution’s democratic ideas (the secret ballot was not adopted by Britain until 1872). There franchise was far broader than that of their British or Dutch neighbours, and the press was remarkably free. All of this is in line with revolutionary ideas. Despite a general economic depression, the Directory was able to maintain, and in some areas, increase French prosperity by 1799. Economic prosperity and security were goals of the Revolution and, indeed, the desire to establish them could be said to have played a large part in bringing about the Revolution of 1789. It is acceptable for responses to seek a definition of the ideas of the Revolution and use this as a template to organise their argument. Accept any other valid responses.